Guy Noves: Bastareaud's France career is not over

New France boss Guy Noves says Mathieu Bastareaud's international career is not over despite him being left out of Les Bleus' provisional 30-man squad for the forthcoming Six Nations but says the omission is down to the introduction of a new playing ethos.

Bastareaud was omitted by Noves along with scrum-half Rory Kockott, fullback Brice Dulin, fly-half Remi Tales and wings Sofiane Guitoune and Noa Nakaitaci. But despite his absence, former Toulouse coach Noves is adamant the Toulon centre still has a future on the Test stage.

Noves told Midi Olympique: "He is a player whose potential we know and this does not mean he has been completely discarded. Quite simply, and I say this humbly, we have the aim of playing a different form of rugby to recent years. Mathieu Bastareaud is also capable of adapting his game, though."

Noves continued: "We prefer to work for the moment with players who are completely invested in the France team for the next four years."

Bastareaud, 27, has won 39 caps since his debut against Wales in 2009, and has scored three international tries.